What does your tween do over the summer

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Almost 13yr old has become a fortnight master. Many championship wins. Thank you. We’re so proud.

at least you're honest.
When did summer become so jammed packed with activities?

[Anonymous]

My daughter(13) wont speak to me because I signed her up for sailing camp.
I didn't realize I needed permission.
It's going to be hell getting her there tomorrow.
Any advice is appreciated!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Almost 13yr old has become a fortnight master. Many championship wins. Thank you. We’re so proud.

at least you're honest.
When did summer become so jammed packed with activities?

IDK. I grew up here and I *never* had a summer with absolutely nothing to do. I did transition to more sleep away camp/time at the grandparents at 10-13. Then I got a summer job.

That said, I can see my 10 year old outgrowing a lot of the day camps, we can’t afford a lot of sleep away camp, no grandparents to send her off to, and in no way can I imagine her tolerating being home alone next summer...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter(13) wont speak to me because I signed her up for sailing camp.
I didn't realize I needed permission.
It's going to be hell getting her there tomorrow.
Any advice is appreciated!

My 13 year old son is there this week (they canceled Monday and Tuesday) and has done nothing but complain about being at camp. So frustrating. How dare I take away his 8 hours of fortnite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Almost 13yr old has become a fortnight master. Many championship wins. Thank you. We’re so proud.

at least you're honest.
When did summer become so jammed packed with activities?

Not this PP, but the answer for me is when my kid won't get off his butt and do something, anything, instead of playing video games all day and into the night.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, why doesn't she want to go to sleep away camp?

There are so many great opportunities and a chance to get away from the dirty city air.

My kid as a tween did

Sailing camp onThe potomac near National Airport

Sleepaway for 3 weeks every year until old enough to be a CIT, then he did that.

Back woods sleepaway camp where he learned camping skills.

Sleepaway on the Chesapeake with more sailing

Yeah, my tween brought home bedbugs from her sleep away camp...and we've now spent a fortune in time and money getting rid of them. Good times.

I truly wish I hadn't read your post.

Leave the luggage on the drive way to bake in the sun for a day. That will take care of them if you have them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Almost 13yr old has become a fortnight master. Many championship wins. Thank you. We’re so proud.

at least you're honest.
When did summer become so jammed packed with activities?

Not this PP, but the answer for me is when my kid won't get off his butt and do something, anything, instead of playing video games all day and into the night.

Because people want their kids to be busy all the time. You want your kids to do something kick them outside, tell them to go find their friends and be kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Almost 13yr old has become a fortnight master. Many championship wins. Thank you. We’re so proud.

at least you're honest.
When did summer become so jammed packed with activities?

Not this PP, but the answer for me is when my kid won't get off his butt and do something, anything, instead of playing video games all day and into the night.

Because people want their kids to be busy all the time. You want your kids to do something kick them outside, tell them to go find their friends and be kids.

New poster here - That is the problem. I don't want my 13y old riding around the neighborhood, having friends over when DH and aren't there (or going over to a friend's house with no adults home.) Teens these days aren't going to do build a fort in the woods and play pirates. They are going to get into things they shouldn't be when they are left to their own devices 10 hrs/day 5 days/week x 11 weeks while DH and I work. And my kid doesn't want to hang out at the community pool all day since he spends 2 hrs every evening at swim practice. I agree it is a balance to have down time - and we make sure our kid gets it by having camp-less weeks at home (where DH and I can split taking the week off), relaxing weekends, etc. Summers aren't the same as when we were teens - just as they weren't the same when OUR parents were teens.

[Anonymous]

I don't know I don't understand the difference then as to kids today vs. when we were kids. Kids and I consider young teens to be kids should want to do that kind of stuff. It's also really sad that people can't seem to trust their kids anymore during the summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know I don't understand the difference then as to kids today vs. when we were kids. Kids and I consider young teens to be kids should want to do that kind of stuff. It's also really sad that people can't seem to trust their kids anymore during the summer.

I also lived in a different area. Where I grew up, no one locked their doors, neighbors walked (freely) in and out of each others homes, I knew all of my neighbors and all of their kids, there were a lot of SAHM moms so 90% of the moms were home, etc.

Versus. I live in an area with a moderate crime rate (not horrible, but there have been robberies, a car jacking, and solicitation within .25 of my house), I always lock my doors, I casually know a FEW of my neighbors (as in I know their first name and that's all), and 90% of my kids' friends have 2 parents working out of the house with long commutes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Almost 13yr old has become a fortnight master. Many championship wins. Thank you. We’re so proud.

at least you're honest.
When did summer become so jammed packed with activities?

Not this PP, but the answer for me is when my kid won't get off his butt and do something, anything, instead of playing video games all day and into the night.

Because people want their kids to be busy all the time. You want your kids to do something kick them outside, tell them to go find their friends and be kids.

New poster here - That is the problem. I don't want my 13y old riding around the neighborhood, having friends over when DH and aren't there (or going over to a friend's house with no adults home.) Teens these days aren't going to do build a fort in the woods and play pirates. They are going to get into things they shouldn't be when they are left to their own devices 10 hrs/day 5 days/week x 11 weeks while DH and I work. And my kid doesn't want to hang out at the community pool all day since he spends 2 hrs every evening at swim practice. I agree it is a balance to have down time - and we make sure our kid gets it by having camp-less weeks at home (where DH and I can split taking the week off), relaxing weekends, etc. Summers aren't the same as when we were teens - just as they weren't the same when OUR parents were teens.

Um...when I was 13, we did not play pirates or build forts. We used to hang out w/ friends, go to the beach/pool, sleep, play tennis, go to the mall, etc. What is it you think teens today are going to get into that we couldn't when we were teens? BTW, my kids swim a lot in the summer, play video games, watch YouTube, watch movies, read, sleep, eat, and play with their pet. They hate camp...and they need downtime and need to learn to take care of themselves.

[Anonymous]

Um.. when we were 13 we did all of those things too, but we do go outside and PLAY a lot. Pick up sports, made up games, night games especially in the summer. I don't know why so many people are against this. It's what kids should be doing at that age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Almost 13yr old has become a fortnight master. Many championship wins. Thank you. We’re so proud.

at least you're honest.
When did summer become so jammed packed with activities?

IDK. I grew up here and I *never* had a summer with absolutely nothing to do. I did transition to more sleep away camp/time at the grandparents at 10-13. Then I got a summer job.

That said, I can see my 10 year old outgrowing a lot of the day camps, we can’t afford a lot of sleep away camp, no grandparents to send her off to, and in no way can I imagine her tolerating being home alone next summer...

What jobs are there for 13-14 years olds, besides petsitting/housesitting/babysitting?

[Anonymous]

My 14 year old is a camp counselor. Right now, he has his friend over and he is teaching him the card game, Magic. He learned it at camp. It's like Dungeons and Dragons meets Pokemon. His friend doesn't like Fortnite so I'm glad my son is taking a break from that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know I don't understand the difference then as to kids today vs. when we were kids. Kids and I consider young teens to be kids should want to do that kind of stuff. It's also really sad that people can't seem to trust their kids anymore during the summer.

I also lived in a different area. Where I grew up, no one locked their doors, neighbors walked (freely) in and out of each others homes, I knew all of my neighbors and all of their kids, there were a lot of SAHM moms so 90% of the moms were home, etc.

Versus. I live in an area with a moderate crime rate (not horrible, but there have been robberies, a car jacking, and solicitation within .25 of my house), I always lock my doors, I casually know a FEW of my neighbors (as in I know their first name and that's all), and 90% of my kids' friends have 2 parents working out of the house with long commutes.

Kids have been going to camps during the summer for decades. Not all kids, but a not insignificant portion of them.

Crime is lower now than it was when you were a kid. I promise you that. There was a crime surge in the 70s-90s and it's gone down since then, so cut it out with the whole "things were so safe when I was a kid and now EVERYTHING IS SO DANGEROUS."

In my neighborhood, kids run around without their parents all the time. Crime is incredibly low. Kids also go to summer camp sometimes! I know -- it's hard to believe.

Also, I don't appreciate your not so subtle digs at two working parent households. I am proud to have both a career and be a mom. I see no reason to disparage either the SAHM or WOHM lifestyle.